I planned to eat Mac at Keystone Grill every Monday I was in town - aside from a few misses, I was pretty faithful. I could not have predicted in January how much fun I would have doing it and how many great conversations would happen throughout the year. I had loads of dinners with many friends. I loved getting a "Hey - can I join you for mac some Monday night?!" There were lots of special times with many dear friends. My friends Meredith and Marina even became regular mac-n-cheese eaters with me - and it's still continuing.
I knew I had finally "arrived" as a regular when Jeremy who works at the bar answered my phone call with "Hey Dani - what do you want this evening?!" I looked forward to seeing his smile and saying hello each time I went in to pick up a carry-out order.
And my students - oh man were they into this goal. On Monday mornings during our Community Time, one of my boys would excitedly ask what I was going to get. And he would follow up on Tuesday morning by asking what I got. I would describe the type of Mac dish I had eaten, while they oooooohed and awwwwwwed over it. They loved it. And as the year came to a close they excitedly asked "What's your goal next year going to be?" (As if Mac-n-Cheese was the whole of my ambition through the year!) So fun :)
Favorites of the year:
Jimmy Buffet - Hamburger in the mac with french fries on top
Smoked cheese with turkey and bacon mac
Black Beans and Bacon
Chorizo macs
Green Day Mac - Sun dried tomatoes, spinach, etc.
Most of all, though, I'm thankful for the time with friends, and I have loads of good memories from these times. There's only been 3 weeks in January so far…and 2 of those I've already eaten mac at Keystone even without the goal :)
I have talked over mac.
Listened over mac.
Cried over mac.
and Laughed over mac.
My year of Mac. What a Great Goal. It'll be hard to top in 2014.
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| Mac with Linda |
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| Marina and Meredith - regular mac buddies - still going.... |
